Please do not, for one minute, believe that Modesto City Schools puts academics first. "What?" you say. This can't be true! Let the facts speak for themselves.

First, they fund a multimullion-dollar football stadium during times of teacher layoffs and other budget pinches.

Next, they spend time debating and studying a new pool for yet another brand new, state-of- the-art campus. Then, they "reassign" the only high school principal brave enough to stand up to this insanity.

Last, they change the citizenship policy to allow more students to be eligible to play sports. Sheesh, next thing you know they'll exchange library time for future athlete development classes.